Mission to Chad

Hi there!  We're sure the reason you're on this blog site is because you are interested, concerned, and/or curious about what this trip is all about.  First, let's introduce ourselves.

This blog was originally started by Jolene, who did a short mission trip to India and Thailand at the beginning of 2012.  If you're interested in reading about her adventures there, just check out the posts from January/February of that year.  We are now going to use this same blog to post about our adventures together, as a couple, in the mission field.

We are Seventh-day Adventists, a newly married couple (we will celebrate our first year anniversary in Africa!) with a passion for ministry.  Will is a physical therapist and I am a recently graduated dental hygienist. 

Some friends of ours, Scott and Becki Gardner, recently moved to Moundou, Chad (pronounced "moon-doo"), to lead the Moundou Surgical Center Hospital. Scott is a surgeon and Becki is a registered nurse. We received a call from Becki several months ago, and she proceeded to, shall we say, beg us to come over to their center and help Becki set up a PT program there. She also said that they could use some dental work there as well.  We prayed long and hard about it, for we weren't sure we could fit in a trip to Africa, what with my graduating, my sister's wedding this same summer, a trip to New York to see Will's family and the possibility of us moving.  Adding in a trip to Africa seemed like a crazy idea, but we promised Becki we would pray about it. After a time of prayer, we decided to go ahead and plan a short trip over there in between our move and Will's first day of work. Since making that decision, multiple emails have been exchanged with the Gardner's and plans have been underway. God blessed us immensely with several donations and extremely supportive churches and friends. We felt God's leading all the way through.

So what exactly are we planning on doing over there? I used the word "planning" for a reason, because really, we could end up doing anything over there (read: change dressings, wound care, surgery assistants, cooking, you name it). But, what we are planning on doing over there is this: Will is going to use his expert PT skills to assist Becki in improving her physical therapy program, give Becki and the staff a crash course on PT techniques, bring supplies and assess what other supplies they may need.  I (Jolene) will be doing dental cleanings and extractions and whatever other dental care and I can provide. The access to dental care is minimal, if not nonexistent, in most rural regions. Although I have no formal training in teeth extractions, I am the most qualified to do them in Moundou.  I have picked the brain of a dentist friend of mine and have practiced techniques on a dentoform (fake mouth with teeth) and successfully extracted one of those plastic teeth completely by accident, but hey, I know my technique works, right? Either way, the people there won't care a bit about my qualifications and will just be most happy to have their dental concern(s) pulled out. I am ready for anything (famous last words).

We will be leaving for Africa this upcoming Monday (11th) and will be back in the US by September 3, not quite a month.  This is Will's first mission trip and my fourth.  Neither of us have been to Africa so we are both super excited to experience the culture and minister to the people there as best we can.  If you're interested in reading more about Gardner's ministry in Africa, check out their blog at http://gardners2koza.wordpress.com/.

Now, to calm some nerves a bit, let me discuss a few concerning things that have been presented to us. Literally every single person who has talked with us recently has inevitably asked, "what about the Ebola outbreak in Africa?? Are you safe? " A valid question, to be sure. We have done our share of research and would like to let you know that, as of today, no cases of Ebola have been recorded in Chad. The countries that are suffering worst are west of us. Even with this information, we are still  choosing to take extra precautions to protect ourselves. We are also taking medication to help protect us against malaria while we are there, and it is comforting to know that we are at a hospital where we can receive care quickly and from people we trust.

Thank you to all who have supported us with prayers and finances.  We hope that you will be blessed by reading of our time there and we look forward to sharing our experiences with some of you in person.  Until then, au revoir!  Let the adventure begin!

Thankfulness

On this day, when millions of Americans gorge themselves on the best of their "crops", when they push back from the table to discretely undo their belts and pant buckles, when people count their blessings and practice thankfulness, when families are together celebrating life, liberty and happiness, when all I see on Facebook is "Happy Thanksgiving" or something rather close to it, when across the nation there is a widespread feeling of thankfulness...

...I grasp for something profound to say that hasn't already been said.  And I fail miserably.

So instead of searching my brain for something profound, I will instead just focus on enjoying the moment.

~Happy Thanksgiving everyone~

My Father

Know what's worse than missing someone when they're not with you?

Missing someone when they are with you.

That's how I felt this past weekend whenever I looked at my dad.  Sure, he's there physically right in front of me.  But, I feel like he's missing.  Cancer has a way of doing that to people.

He has to sleep propped up on a recliner in the living room now because he can't breath well at night.  Poor mom, all alone in that big bed.  Wouldn't be surprised if she's sleeping on the couch next to him.

Dad doesn't talk much now.  His talking is usually interrupted by fits of coughing.  He can't talk loud or long.  What's worse... he can't sing.  Singing is our love, our family tradition, our ministry, our joy.  When dad sings with his girls, he just beams.  But now, he'll have to just play the guitar for us while we sing.

The Lord's prayer is not quite as good without dad's strong male voice ushering a sense of awe.

It's just hard to go home now to see my family and feel like part of the household is missing.  A piece is gone.  Dad is still here, but he's not the same dad that I've always known.  He shows more pain, admits his frailty more readily, and surrenders his tasks more often to the able hands of his wife or daughters.

But, he's still dad.

He was outside in the chilly morning air planting bulbs.  He can still impress even himself with his guitar playing.  He gets the heartiest laughs at the dinner table.  He would pause a moment to lovingly pet one of the cats.  He is still shy around people.

Some things never change.

Although a part of my dad is missing, he is still the wonderful father that God gave me.  God did a an amazing thing when He wrought my father in the womb.

He shall be a man of quiet strength.  He shall know when to speak and when to be silent.  He shall "provide things honest in the sight of all men."  He shall have a high sense of morality, responsibility, honesty and unwavering loyalty.  He shall have a faith as solid as stone.  He shall be a man of integrity.  He shall have and impart wisdom.  He shall be called, "beloved."

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Please join me in praying for my father, that God would provide a quite peace to flood his soul.  It would be our greatest desire for God to heal him, but we also know that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  He is in control.  

I remember a night many years ago, when I complained to my father about a lingering hip displacement that was causing me much pain and agony.  I told him my woes and asked, "why do I have this problem?  Why won't God just fix me?"  My dad paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, then carefully replied with, "though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.*"

That made a profound impression on my young mind.

And now, as my dad battles his worst enemy, he is a living example of the very words he uttered that night so many years ago.  Although his modesty compels him to stay silent, I speak from witnessing him, that he believes those words.  He has that kind of trust.

And again, I'm profoundly impressed.

*Job 13:15

Sabbath Rest

It has come.

I knew it would sneak up on me quicker than I anticipated.  And it did.

School has a way of doing that to you.

I can't believe it.  I'm actually in the program I've been pursuing; the program I've been aiming at for over 3 years now.  My goal is becoming a reality.  And I'm still dazed.

I was walking across campus today from having spent a few hours studying in the library, when I happened to look down and notice the scrubs I was wearing.  How can I describe the excitement that bubbled up in me?  Wow.  I'm in my dental hygiene program.  I'm actually in.

God is good.

But now I must add that this isn't any easy program I've begun.  Never did I realize how much anatomy is hidden in the oral cavity.  And trying to learn each tooth by a numeric system is incredibly challenging.  Just wait till I learn all the facial bones, muscles, circulator system and nerves.  And how about trying to learn all that, while also trying to learn how to take a perfect radiograph (x-ray) of the teeth, probe around your patient's mouth without jabbing them, and hold a mirror in your non-dominant hand.  Oh, I know it's possible.  Lots of hygienists have done it in the past.  My respect for them has tripled, to say the least.

My 5 other classmates - all girls ranging from 20 to 26 - are just as excited.  Yet, our enthusiasm seemed to quickly get smothered under the heavy load of books to read, assignments to complete, and exams to take.  I hear more sighs; I see more yawns; I hear more groans.  I try to remind myself of how blessed I am to be in this program.  Of how blessed I am to be learning all this.  Of what a help I'll be to people who need oral care.  Then, the book load isn't so heavy, the assignments not so burdensome, the exams not so tedious.

And, once in a while, when my screensaver kicks on as my computer dozes, I see pictures of India.  Then, I'm reminded of why I'm doing this.

Already, I've learned so much in the program (and it's only been two weeks!).  So many things I would do differently if I were to be in India again.  I can't imagine how much I'll know after two years of this!

How happy I am to have the Sabbath.  I really need it after an exhausting week of school.

Yet, I had two exams to complete online this weekend.  When I got out of class Friday at noon and realized that I only had a few hours till sundown and that I had hardly had enough time to study for my two exams and that the Sabbath was smack in the middle of my weekend, a sudden feeling of panic enveloped me.  Realizing my predicament, I internally freaked out.

But then, I remembered something.

Before school began, I emailed my lead professor and explained to her about my Sabbath and my desire to honor that day by abstaining from doing or thinking of school on my rest day.  I politely asked if there were any exams, assignments, field trips or the like that would fall on my Sabbath and would she please let me know ahead of time so I could make arrangements if necessary.  She replied sweetly that they would do their absolute best to work with me.

She then forwarded my email to several of my other online professors.  I then later found out that all the professors had gotten together and planned out their schedules to that all the exams and assignments would not be on Saturday, or would be over a two-day period so as to allow me to make each deadline.  Wow.  Isn't God good?!

So, I was talking with one of my classmates Friday about the weekend.  I made mention of how I would have to leave the library at 3 to get some things done before sundown and wouldn't be able to study till Saturday night.  She is familiar with SDA's and she asked me, "is it because of your Sabbath?"  I replied the affirmative.  She commented, "that's so cool that you just take a whole day of your week and not even think about school.  You must feel so refreshed after it."

I opened my mouth to respond, but closed it feeling a bit of shame.  How could I ignore the beautiful truth of the Sabbath rest?  She was right.

So I laid my plans for the weekend at His feet, knowing that He would bless my desire to keep His Sabbath holy.  I claimed His promises and entered into the Sabbath hours with nary a burden.  And I had a wonderful Sabbath indeed.

And guess what?  I got both my exams done Sunday morning bright and early.  What a relief.

"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath..." 

Success!

After so long of planning this health expo with the Kamiah church, we finally did it!  Wow.  What a wonderful feeling!

We did it during BBQ days, so we had a constant flow of people coming through the lines.  105 people filled out the questionnaire, but more went through than that.  Probably had around 130 people go through our health screening stations!  Praise the Lord!

Welcoming people

Find out your health age! 

So many people, we were sometimes backlogged! 

Will administering the step test to check fitness level

Volunteers resting!

Blood pressure station

Kerri aiding a lady through the BMI station

Blood glucose and cholesterol station

Will giving advice to a woman

Filling out the questionnaires

The step test station was popular to young and old!

What a blessed opportunity!  Some of our staff got to pray with people and several invitations to join us for church were given.  The majority of people were really interested and open-minded.  We not only gave them helpful advice on how to have better health, but we made loving contact with our community.

Yay for health evangelism!

Proud to Be Called Chicken

Just watch.  It's worth the 11 minutes.

"...how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

Overflowing

Just finished an incredible youth conference in Montana.  How could you be more blessed?

The theme was Filled.

Every speaker was great.  I left there feeling immensely blessed.  There are several changes I want to make to my lifestyle and habits now.  It's like a refreshing spring cleaning.

Now, for the hardest part... sticking to the goals I set while at the conference.  Yes, it's difficult in some ways, but "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!"

Yes, I am filled to overflowing.

"My cup runneth over..."